"The Second Omaha Beach" - Crossing the Waal "On September 20, 1944 the war in the West depended on whether American Paratroopers could seize the Nijmegen Bridge before the Germans could destroy it. The fate of Operation Market Garden and 10,000 beleaguered British paratroopers trapped in Arnhem rested on the capture of the bridge. A daring daylight crossing of the Waal river was planned to capture the bridge. "
Crossing the Waal - 20 September 1944 The soldiers of the 504th that survived the crossing stormed the germans defenses on the north side of the river. Losses where very heavy, but the men were able to grab the northern end of the railway- and road bridges. The played a major part in the capture of both bridges. The men of C Company 307th Engineer battalion, that had not been killed or injured during the first crossing returned with the remainder of the boats and made several more crossings carrying more men of the 504th across.
Crossing the Waal - 20 September 1944 The soldiers of the 504th that survived the crossing stormed the germans defenses on the north side of the river. Losses where very heavy, but the men were able to grab the northern end of the railway- and road bridges. The played a major part in the capture of both bridges. The men of C Company 307th Engineer battalion, that had not been killed or injured during the first crossing returned with the remainder of the boats and made several more crossings carrying more men of the 504th across.
"Third Battalion 504, H & I Companies were the first to cross the Waal River in small canvas/wood boats. First battalion crossed after 11 of the 26 boats returned. The German artillery was able to mow them down as they crossed. In spite of heavy casualties, the men of the 504 prevailed and captured their objective, the North end of the Bridges at Nijmegen." ...
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